‘Green’ your holiday with these tips

Published: Sunday, December 23, 2012 at 9:38 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, December 23, 2012 at 9:38 p.m.

Once the presents are unwrapped and the meals enjoyed, many will end the Christmas season with a hefty pile of holiday garbage waiting on the curb for pickup.

Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the average American’s household waste increases by more than 25 percent. Additional food waste, shopping bags, packaging, wrapping paper, bows and ribbons adds up to 1 million tons a week of garbage to the nation’s landfills.

But all of the extra garbage doesn’t have to head to the landfill. There are many ways you can recycle your Christmas this year, easing trash pickup and giving back to the Earth. You can recycle wrapping paper, boxes, electronics and even your Christmas tree.

Paul Miller, special assistant to the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, said electronics recycling has grown over the years.

One of the earliest electronics recycling groups actually sprouted up in Baton Rouge. That group, the Louisiana Area Corporate Recycling Council, provides computers to schools, families and nonprofits. Visit their website at www.cacrc.com for details.

While it isn’t illegal to dump electronics in landfills in Louisiana, solid waste officials encourage you to donate them. A computer, tablet, cellphone or laptop that seems outdated to you could be a boon for a less-fortunate family. And even older model computers have valuable hardware and metals that can be recycled and reused.

Clay Naquin, solid waste administrator for Terrebonne Parish, suggested using the website Earth911.com to find recycling locations. The website allows you to search by location to find retailers and other places that take recyclables.

Many businesses such as Best Buy accept old electronics for recycling for free or for a small fee. Lafourche Parish residents can also hold onto their old electronics until the spring, when Lafourche holds a household hazardous waste collection day, said Lafourche Parish solid waste administrator Jerome Danos.

Some agencies such as Goodwill will also accept donations of used working electronics.

If you have outgrown toys and clothing, consider donating them to groups such as St Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Volunteers of America or other organizations that reuse them.

Terrebonne and Lafourche have recycling containers in locations across the two parishes. The large green bins can be used for discarded wrapping paper, envelopes, catalogues, newspapers, cardboard, plastic wrapping for new toys and food tins.

In Lafourche, the bins are at the Acadia Truck Plaza on the corner of St. Patrick Street and La. 308 in Thibodaux; at the Lafourche Parish Government office, 4876 La. 1, Mathews; and the South Lafourche Library, 1624 La. 308.

In Terrebonne Parish, residents can recycle their Christmas tree to help the wetlands. Lafourche’s program, which was run by a private organization, was discontinued.

To participate, residents should place their Christmas trees out with their normal garbage pickup between Jan. 2 and Jan. 8. You can also drop off your tree at 263 Ashland Landfill Road, 651 Isle of Cuba Road in Schriever or 160 Crochetville Road in Montegut.

The Christmas trees are placed into retention cradles along the Intracoastal Waterway near the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge. The trees are used to provide a wave-break, which can reduce erosion in marshes.

The trees also act as a filter, collecting sediment behind the cribs in an effort to build new land.

Only real, green trees will be accepted. Flocked trees, artificial trees and trees with tinsel, decorations or tree stands cannot be used.

If your trash is bound for the garbage, make sure lightweight garbage like wrapping paper and cardboard is secured firmly inside bags in your garbage bin.

There will be no garbage collection on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

“There will be a lot to collect, but we will work until we get it all,” Danos said.

Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.

<p>Once the presents are unwrapped and the meals enjoyed, many will end the Christmas season with a hefty pile of holiday garbage waiting on the curb for pickup.</p><p>Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, the average American's household waste increases by more than 25 percent. Additional food waste, shopping bags, packaging, wrapping paper, bows and ribbons adds up to 1 million tons a week of garbage to the nation's landfills.</p><p>But all of the extra garbage doesn't have to head to the landfill. There are many ways you can recycle your Christmas this year, easing trash pickup and giving back to the Earth. You can recycle wrapping paper, boxes, electronics and even your Christmas tree.</p><p>Paul Miller, special assistant to the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, said electronics recycling has grown over the years. </p><p>One of the earliest electronics recycling groups actually sprouted up in Baton Rouge. That group, the Louisiana Area Corporate Recycling Council, provides computers to schools, families and nonprofits. Visit their website at www.cacrc.com for details.</p><p>While it isn't illegal to dump electronics in landfills in Louisiana, solid waste officials encourage you to donate them. A computer, tablet, cellphone or laptop that seems outdated to you could be a boon for a less-fortunate family. And even older model computers have valuable hardware and metals that can be recycled and reused.</p><p>Clay Naquin, solid waste administrator for Terrebonne Parish, suggested using the website Earth911.com to find recycling locations. The website allows you to search by location to find retailers and other places that take recyclables. </p><p>Many businesses such as Best Buy accept old electronics for recycling for free or for a small fee. Lafourche Parish residents can also hold onto their old electronics until the spring, when Lafourche holds a household hazardous waste collection day, said Lafourche Parish solid waste administrator Jerome Danos.</p><p>Some agencies such as Goodwill will also accept donations of used working electronics.</p><p>If you have outgrown toys and clothing, consider donating them to groups such as St Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Volunteers of America or other organizations that reuse them. </p><p>Terrebonne and Lafourche have recycling containers in locations across the two parishes. The large green bins can be used for discarded wrapping paper, envelopes, catalogues, newspapers, cardboard, plastic wrapping for new toys and food tins.</p><p>In Terrebonne, they can be found at:</p><p>Bayou Cane Fire Station, 6166 W. Main St.; Concord Shopping Center, 1238 St. Charles St.; Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, 346 Civic Center Blvd.; American Legion Hall, 602 Legion Ave.; Little Caillou Fire Station, 5016 La. 56; East Houma Shopping Center/Bingo Hall, 425 Grand Caillou Road; Dularge Recreation Center, 1330 Dr. Beatrous Road; Southland Mall, 5953 Park Ave; and Bourg Fire Station, 4317 La. 24.</p><p>In Lafourche, the bins are at the Acadia Truck Plaza on the corner of St. Patrick Street and La. 308 in Thibodaux; at the Lafourche Parish Government office, 4876 La. 1, Mathews; and the South Lafourche Library, 1624 La. 308.</p><p>In Terrebonne Parish, residents can recycle their Christmas tree to help the wetlands. Lafourche's program, which was run by a private organization, was discontinued.</p><p>To participate, residents should place their Christmas trees out with their normal garbage pickup between Jan. 2 and Jan. 8. You can also drop off your tree at 263 Ashland Landfill Road, 651 Isle of Cuba Road in Schriever or 160 Crochetville Road in Montegut.</p><p>The Christmas trees are placed into retention cradles along the Intracoastal Waterway near the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge. The trees are used to provide a wave-break, which can reduce erosion in marshes.</p><p>The trees also act as a filter, collecting sediment behind the cribs in an effort to build new land. </p><p>Only real, green trees will be accepted. Flocked trees, artificial trees and trees with tinsel, decorations or tree stands cannot be used.</p><p>If your trash is bound for the garbage, make sure lightweight garbage like wrapping paper and cardboard is secured firmly inside bags in your garbage bin.</p><p>There will be no garbage collection on Christmas Day or New Year's Day.</p><p>“There will be a lot to collect, but we will work until we get it all,” Danos said. </p><p>Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.</p>